Nikon D5200 review: New sensor and new leader

Nikon D5200 main competition

Nikon D5200 Vs Nikon D3200: Sony vs Toshiba sensor competition

The entry-level Nikon D3200 was announced in April 2012 and caused a commotion by adopting an up-market 24.3Mpix CMOS sensor that immediately trumped the firm’s existing APS-C models. Several months on that model and that now been joined by the D5200, packing the more advanced features of the D7000 with a totally new 24.1Mpix sensor. Aimed at the enthusiast, the D5200 is a very capable DSLR that will easily adapt to various photographic genres but D3200 is no slouch and while the spec of the sensors permit faster continuous shooting and some additional video functions the sensors perform quite similarly.

In real world terms, the difference in the Portrait score is negligible (at 0.1 bit) as is the Low-Light score (at around 0.15 stop) but the D5200 has more than +2/3EV extra in Dynamic Range at base ISO. Given the comparable sensor sizes and pixel count this is a significant advantage, and further underlines the advances made in sensor design. The improvement in Dynamic range and dark noise levels over the earlier camera can also be seen throughout the ISO range. Both cameras score well in their sensor performance tests though, and if you don’t want the additional features of the D5200, the D3200 is extraordinary value.

Nikon D5200 vs D5100 vs D7000: what’s different?

Nikon D5200 Vs Nikon D5100 Vs Nikon D7000:

If you’re contemplating whether to buy the D5200, you might also be looking at a bargain D5100 on the shelves or even the D7000 (as it’s close to the end of its product life, and will likely be replaced this year, 2013). Both those models are heavily discounted, but on sensor performance alone (disregarding the difference in resolution between them), the D5200 delivers some small but not insignificant advances.

With a Portrait (Color Depth) score of 24.2 bits, the D5200 has an 0.7 stop gain in color depth at base sensitivity over the older 16Mpix Sony sensor in the D5100 and D7000. In the overall DxOMark Sensor scores, the ‘extra’ 4 points attained by the D5200 over the two rivals can be explained by the 0.7 stop increase in color depth revealed by our Portrait category, as well as the consistently higher Dynamic Range from ISO400 onwards (although the DR at base ISO is similar), and the small increase in our Sports (Low Light) category. In fairness, the existing 16Mpix sensors do well, but the increase in pixel count hasn’t been sacrificed at the expense of performance.

How does the Nikon D5200 fair against rivals?

Nikon D5200 Vs Canon EOS 650D Vs Sony SLT Alpha 65

Things get a little more interesting when looking at rival makes. Compared with the 18Mpix Canon EOS 650D (Rebel T4i) the Nikon D5200 is way ahead in the sensor performance stakes. That particular camera has an DxOMark overall score of just 62 compared with 84 for the Nikon. Canon’s again sensor design is very noticeable. With a score of 21.7 bits versus 24.2 bits, color depth is 1.6 stops behind the higher resolution Nikon D5200. And, it doesn’t stop there. The Canon EOS 650D has a Landscape score of just 11.2 Evs compared with 13.9 Evs of the Nikon, or 2.7 stops less Dynamic Range. In our Low Light scores, the story remains the same with the Canon trailing by some 2/3 rds of stop. The Nikon D5200 also compares well against Sony SLT Alpha 65, the firm’s most accessible DSLR (at around $900 USD) boasting a proprietary 24MP CMOS sensor. The overall DxOMark Score of 74 for the Alpha 65 is respectable, but still a full 10 points behind the new sensor in the D5200 (it is worth noting that Alpha 65 scores are limited by its SLT mirror). If we look at the individual categories, we can see the Nikon has just over 2/3rds of stop better Color Depth, Dynamic Range, and Light-Light ISO.

Further readings for the Nikon D5200 review: New sensor and new leader

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

The Nikon D5200 is a solid performer that offers an impressive array of specifications for a camera of its class. Indeed, the number of features it shares with its higher-end Nikon stablemates is to be applauded. In addition to an excellent 24MP sensor that gives up precious little to that of the (non-AA filtered) D7100, the D5200 boasts a 39 point AF system, lens-dependent Auto ISO implementation and class-leading high ISO noise performance.

Comments

Please Test Lenses

Please test lenses on this excelent APS-C DSLR, It's hard to decide which lens to choose, by observing the results on older aps-c or full frames(Like on d5000 lens rating is very low on the other side on d800 or d3x the lens rating is very high). Since the pixel pitch is different it may bring a lot of difference in score.-thank u.

Sensor Size

I believe you when you say that the D5200 has a better sensor overall compared to the D7100 (Although it is hard to believe), however, on this site it is listed that the sensor on the D5200 is 15.7x23.6 and on Nikon's official site it shows that both the D7100 and the D5200 have the same 15.6x23.5 sensor. Having the same sensor seems like they would have the same low light performance, but since this is not the case based on your tests, do you think it could possibly have something to do with the lack of the filter?

In actual shooting, the new 24Mp D5200 produces superb results

I had an opportunity to shoot with a D5200 for about an hour and found that the results were similar in overall IQ as my D800. My initial impression: I would have no problem marrying the D5200 (or better yet, the D7100) as a backup camera for my D800 -- particularly if mated to the 70-300 as a lightweight super-long companion to the D800 with 24-120mm f/4.

Ohh, too bad even at base iso under bright light!!

take a look at this full size sample published from NikonFrance,,, even at iso200 under daylight, IQ is terrible, very much like a photo from basic P&S camera,,, charts and numbers here are very meaningless,, real life still are too bad for this sensor...shocked!

First replies for this comment

Re: Ohh, too bad even at base iso under bright light!!

Hello,

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

The DxOMark scores includes RAW measurement only. Sometimes, RAW converter embedded on cameras does not fit the sensor IQ (the old sony JPEG images is a good sample for that : RAW measurement were pretty good when JPEG were very bad).

Banding Issues

There have been several samples floating about now that people in the USA are receiving their orders. The raw samples, unlike the raw NEFs from the D7000/D5100, behave poorly when the shadows are brought up. There is a distinct banding pattern that appears to be an issue with the DAC/readout-process that creates evenly spaced horizontal lines (in landscape orientation) on recoveries of 2EV and up. This is not unlike the banding visible in the early 5D mk2 samples. I see this as a major strike against a camera replacing the excellent sensor of the D5100/D7000. I definitely would not trade "up" in this case.

Chroma noise at ISO200

At FLICKR there is a sample of the D5200: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonfrance/8160816485/sizes/o/in/photostream/How could this camera earn such a high score, when pronounced chroma noise starts appearing even at ISO200 (check EXIF for the picture above). Please check out this sample in the region of the girl's hair, it's full of blueish chroma noise. It is also evident that the camera loses detail (masks it and sharpens it)even at the lowest setting, giving a "cartoonish" feel to it.

Nikon D5200

Sorry, this isn't particular to the sensor. I hope Nikon/Toshiba is really able to control noise while upping the mexapixels.

I bought a D5100 in early 2012. I tried it at the camera store and liked what I felt there. It wasn't till I got it outside and went to use it "for real" that I noticed what would have been a deal-breaker: No Depth of Field Preview! I have used a bunch of Nilons over the yars -- they all had a DOF preview button to the right of the lens mount. A (D)SLR without a DOF preview? Why would Nikon leave off this most useful feature? They don't seem to have added it to the D5200.

First replies for this comment

Re: Nikon D5200

Nikon removed the DoF preview button on the entry-level cameras dating all the way back to the D40. The D40/X, D50, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, all of these lack DoF preview. As a matter of fact it's not even an option to set to the Fn. button.

My best guess as to why the DoF preview is gone is that most people using entry-level cameras wouldn't use it. They would take a picture and look at the screen to judge DoF. Personally, I like DoF Preview and I use it all the time.

On Nikon's current lineup only the D90 and higher have DoF Preview options.